Creative Spaces: In Her Studio

Most of my friends in the fashion industry have such creative spaces and closets full of... well, clothes. I've started a new series that looks at the inner workings of my friend's closet spaces and also, creative spaces. Let me know how you like the series!

Going to fashion school with JI, I have always admired her illustrations for it's quirky factor. We've been friends since our very first year down to our graduating collections together. Sometimes we had to pull all-nighters in the lab to finish our collections, but we would always finish on time.

Her medium of choice is ink, marker and watercolor. Be sure to check out her illustration blog here.

Words from JI:  "My inspirations come from everything around me. I can be inspired by the great artists like Egon Schiele and Frida Kahlo or just simply mesmerized by the mess in my room."

"I am also influenced by androgyny and  gender roles.  More specifically, I am inspired by women’s roles in society and their self empowering energy."

"It may sound very cliché, but I wanted to be in  fashion as long as I can remember.  It was the only option I gave myself."

Inside an Artist's sketchbook: The Creative Process

How designs come to fruition really start with the sketchbook. I come up with about ten or twenty sketches before I can decide on one idea. But it doesn't really stop there, as ideas change or need to be modified as I make up a sample. Sometimes sketches aren't physically possible to recreate, but the challenge to find a solution is the most rewarding part of the process.

A look inside any designer's sketchbook (if they allow to show you), is a private exploration of their thoughts, ideas and a glimpse of the illusive creative process. I stumbled upon Camila Do Rosario's illustrations; a page in her sketchbook is just as lovely as her final works of art.

via: Camila Do Rosario, TrendLand

Fashion Illustrations: Me and a Cup of Chocolate

Every now and then I come across a very inspiring and talented fashion illustrator on Etsy that I can't resist blogging about.

These are beautiful and stylistic fashion illustrations by Meo, who is located in Thailand.  I love the way she draws the different textures of hair with the use of colored pencil and watercolor. She also makes scarves from her prints and has a lovely blog.

Fashion Illustration: Manuel Rebollo

I arrived in Hong Kong yesterday to do some fabric and trim sourcing for my new collection for Love at First Blush. Internet usage here is quite limited, so posts will be less frequent while I am here.

I discovered these illustrations from Manuel Rebollo a few days ago. I love the use of just black ink and negative spacing. Simple, but powerful. What do you think?

via Manuel Rebello

Fashion Illustration: Sandra Suy

These prints from Sandra Suy's Etsy shop are beautiful and alluring. A fashion illustrator from Barcelona, she illustrates High Fashion and Couture garments with a certain ease and gracefulness in her brushstroke and line work. She draws everything from Chanel bags, Mcqueen dresses and Prada shoes. To see more of her work, click here.

Fashion Illustrator: Anna Fredriksson

Images via Anna F

I fell in love with Anna Fredriksson's work when I discovered her illustrations at H&M a few years ago for the T-shirt Art collaboration. I immediately tried to buy every shirt with her drawings.

Her work is beautifully drawn with sketchy lines, splashes of color and a sense of deliberate carelessness.

Fashion Inspiration: Illustrator Ruben Toledo

I discovered Ruben Toledo's work from the new book cover illustrations of Wuthering Heights. His illustrations are whimsical, Tim Burton-esque and evoke a sense of Surrealism.

His collaboration with Nordstrom is just gorgeous and reminds me of an Alice lost in a whirlwind of graffiti art.